Sailing in the service of Queen Isabella of Spain, Columbus actually landed in the Dominican Republic, a tiny island in the Caribbean; but thinking he had discovered the rich and fertile shores of India, Columbus christened the natives as ‘Indians’.  It was a forgivable oversight; and this classic name, older than the Roman forum, was thereafter used to describe the tawny skinned aborigines who inhabited the new world. 

Columbus wrote that the people he encountered were not wild barbarians, but had good faces; and carrying no weapons, they were both courteous and generous.  They were “very gentle,” he said in his letters to Queen Isabella, “without knowing what evil is, without killing, without stealing,” and “Because they showed much kindness for us, and because I knew they would be more easily made Christian through love than fear, I gave to some of them colored caps, and some strings of glass beads for their necks, and many other trifles, with which they were delighted; and were so entirely ours, that it was a marvel to see.”   Columbus also informed the queen that he would be able to supply all the gold they would need, and also spices, cotton, mastic, aloes, rhubarb, cinnamon, and slaves - “Slaves, as many of these idolaters as her Highness shall command to be shipped.”       

Meanwhile, of the Spanish explorers and their great white winged ships, the natives were running from hut to hut and shouting with undisguised awe, “Come; come and see the people from heaven!”  

It should be noted, despite our current understanding of history, that Columbus was a man of his times.  The Spaniards were ruthless, corrupted colonialists of an almost incomparable nature; thirsting for resources and booty no less than the most murderous pirate.  Such behavior in the name of country, king, and queen was quite acceptable in those days.  Their victims were literally subhuman in their eyes.  It’s difficult to fathom such ravenous greed and corruption, and yet the genocide is still going on, to this very moment.  My country 'tis of thee... Of thee I sing.  As one friend so succinctly put it, Columbus Day should be called  “Let the Barbarism and Massacres Begin Day.” 

You’d think after all this time we humans would have learned something more than war and greed and mind control.  Some of us have evolved spiritually so far beyond such egregious conduct that we cannot comprehend why it is still going on.  It is human sickness.  In all our glory and grand accomplishment, mankind is an oxymoron.  

There is still a huge language barrier between cultures and religions, and our differences continue to tear us apart.  Yet some of us must be doctors of the human spirit.  It is a difficult and sometimes dangerous job; but the very fact that a portion have evolved beyond the self indulgence and patriarchal insanity of Church and state is proof that others will too.  We must hope that even the greedy and corrupt will someday discern the error of their ways, and in a moment of revelation, discover how morally bankrupt they have become.

We are all Earthlings, ONE species; many colors and religions and cultures, but ONE race.  To some, it may sound absurd, but when I look at pictures of crop circles, it is my belief that the extra terrestrials are giving us indisputable proof they are not figments of our wild imaginations, but up there, patiently watching us; observing our human culture; and they give us intricate and fascinating artwork to show us they are more advanced than we, and mean us no harm.  Yet they are the ultimate foreign invaders and colonialists who, we must hope and pray are more evolved and loving and benevolent than humanity.  When they finally decide to come back to Earth and land, the ET’s will show us power that will dwarf the mighty American war mongering machine, and make the military industrial complex seem like the small minded, emotionally twisted little creatures such men have become.  The ET’s will have riches and resources that will make the New World Order and the ruling elite seem like the puny, greedy mere men they really are.  Ultimately, we'll deal with that event not as Americans or Europeans or Chinese; but as humankind; and ONE planet Earth.  One people.  We'll all be Earthlings. 

Let us not celebrate Columbus and conquering, but instead, let us acknowledge and celebrate our mutual commonality.  We are ALL indigenous people.  Even nefarious anglo EuroMan is an indigenous population who once lived sustainably upon the garden planet, as much a part of the Earth’s native genetic code as any; no less than any other color or cultural persuasion; and no less worthy.  We have gone astray; but we the people should not be judged for the trespasses and hideous mayhem of our governments, who erroneously wear a mantle of respectability, and act in our name.  But they are not U.S. 

They do not represent us.  We are not the machine.

Peace can be achieved in every language.  Love is spoken fluently by even the most greedy and corrupt, for love is a language that everyone knows.  Humanity will reach a new paradigm only when our lust for gold and oil and drugs has given way to our colonial embrace of love.

Reach out and hug someone.